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hue's review against another edition
2.0
So much curch.
A bit muddling to read. I suppose it was on purpose but it confused me.
A bit muddling to read. I suppose it was on purpose but it confused me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Homophobia, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, and Religious bigotry
maumaus's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
hogsqueal's review
5.0
4.5*
I too have been betrayed and want someone who will destroy and be destroyed by me!!
I too have been betrayed and want someone who will destroy and be destroyed by me!!
dianaestesia's review
5.0
I was afraid this was going to be slow and confusing but I loved every word and it had a good pacing. I loved the autor's voice and writing, it was beautiful and funny. A story that makes you feel a lot of things but never sadness nor pitty. I'm going to be thinking of this book for a long time.
annicanns's review
3.0
the writing in this book is good but dense, making the short length seem longer. i grew up heavily religious (and grew out of it for reasons seen in this book) so i related well but still felt as though i was drowning while trying to read.
the true meaning of this book and the title is absolutely wonderful and will stick with me
the true meaning of this book and the title is absolutely wonderful and will stick with me
pezh9999's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
carolbrasnovo's review
5.0
well, I guess that this year my type of book is stories about religion, what's built around it - the communities, the rules, the secrets, the downfalls and the salvations -, and about how people are impacted by it. in the author's biography it says "Adopted by Pentecostal parents she was raised to be a missionary. This did and didn't work out" - and I think it's always a bit like this in life, isn't it? It works and it doesn't.
After "Crossroads", this one is probably my 2022's favourite book.
After "Crossroads", this one is probably my 2022's favourite book.
vanessakm's review
3.0
I heard an interview with Winterson on the BBC recently which made me recall how much I liked the movie of this book. It's a short read and thoughtfully written. The events are largely autobiographical as they concern a young woman named Jeanette who grows up in an evangelical family and is being trained for missionary work. Alas, she also learns is a lesbian (I say "learns" as that is more appropriate to the repressive Christian milieu she inhabits) and upon discovery of an affair with a fellow young female church member is subjected to humiliation, an exorcism and eventually is kicked out of her home. Despite all of this, she manages to thrive and attend Oxford and, most importantly, not become twisted with anger and bitterness. I really like the way Winterson rarely says how old her protagonist is but you sense her age as she grows from reporting events in a sort of factual fancy like a child does to a more adult and intellectual musing on her life.
Reading this book, one would be tempted to think its a memoir instead of fiction but my copy says on the cover that Winterson won the Whitbread Prize for first fiction. By the way, doesn't it seem like England is a country where they really love their literature, what with their plethora of literary prizes? I looked it up and the Whitbread (now called the Costa) is given to books published in the UK or Ireland and recognizes not only literary merit but also readability. Funny how those two things can be separate. Happily, not in this case.
Reading this book, one would be tempted to think its a memoir instead of fiction but my copy says on the cover that Winterson won the Whitbread Prize for first fiction. By the way, doesn't it seem like England is a country where they really love their literature, what with their plethora of literary prizes? I looked it up and the Whitbread (now called the Costa) is given to books published in the UK or Ireland and recognizes not only literary merit but also readability. Funny how those two things can be separate. Happily, not in this case.